Background to the reform
Previously, we reported how the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) had begun a consultation process looking at a new approach to dealing with the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture.
A particular concern with the current regulations has been the volume of chemical flame retardants (CFRs) which are used to ensure that upholstered furniture passes flammability tests.
Next steps: policy paper and amendments
The government has now published a policy paper setting out its findings and outlining changes to modernise the current system. In the short term, the government intends to introduce legislation to:
- Remove the requirement for manufacturers to affix a display label to new products
- Exclude certain baby and children’s products from the scope of the regulations to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals
These changes aim to strike a balance between maintaining fire safety and reducing the potential health risks associated with chemical flame retardants.
Read the full guidance
The full policy paper can be viewed on the Gov.UK website.
